KT Begins Notifying All Customers of Hacking Incident... "Penalty Fees Waived for 22,227 Users"

Kim Youngseop: "Actively Reviewing and Implementing USIM Card Replacements"

Kim Youngseop, CEO of KT, appeared at the National Assembly's Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting Communications Committee's audit on the hacking incident held in Yeouido, Seoul on the 21st, responding to lawmakers' questions. 2025.10.21 Photo by Kim Hyunmin

On October 21, KT began notifying all subscribers regarding the hacking and unauthorized small payment incidents.

KT announced that starting that afternoon, it began sending text messages to all customers explaining the situation, and that these notifications would be sent sequentially until the following day.

The company initiated these notifications belatedly after the National Assembly's Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting Communications Committee pointed out during an audit of ICT-related agencies that KT had not informed all subscribers about the hacking incident.

During the audit, KT CEO Kim Youngseop stated that for those affected by unauthorized small payments and personal information leaks due to the hacking, "We will proceed with relevant procedures, such as notifying customers about exemption from penalty fees."

KT will waive penalty fees for 22,227 customers whose personal information was confirmed to have been leaked.

The company stated that any exemption measures for all subscribers will be decided after the results of a joint public-private investigation.

CEO Kim also said, "Regarding USIM card replacement, I believe we should actively consider and implement this for all customers."